Good vs. Good.... um, why?

[Nifft]

I hate to bring up real-world politics, the whole Irak issue is a good exemple of this

Iraq can be looked at as an example of two conflicting, greedy Evil motives, too -- and that's all I'm gonna say about it. Sorry.

Politics is a good reason, though let's try to keep things fictional -- look at how Gondor and Rohan became alienated, and how simple pride made Rohan almost not help Gondor, even after Theodan was rescued from Wormtongue. I'll wager that the Men of the South weren't all [Evil]...

-- N

 

[caudor]

One classic conflict is justice versus mercy.

 

[Phaedrus]

To steal a plot from Zahn's Hand of Thrawn series, one nation is hiding a secret from long ago, the other nations want it revealed. Each side is adamant for what they perceive as legitimate reasons. To make it more complex, the secret-hiding nation doesn't know the whole story, but others think they do. Forces build, lots of chest thumping takes place, someone twitches and boom! Shots are fired.

Resources. One nation "unfairly" has more than anyone else and refuses to share (and charges too much). It's only right that we take it (b/c we would fairly share with others).

Priorities. 2 LG realms following a different set of laws that emphasize different things. One places economy as its highest value, the other society (social order/tranquility). One is pragmatic, the other traditional. One is led by its elders, the other by the young.

 

[Phaedrus]

Thought of another one--Goodkind's Blood of the Fold (Jordan's Children of Light--did I remember that correctly?). The "righteous" knights that do all manner of evil things. Some of the members really are paladins. They believe the code, they are truly good. But others are hiding behind the facade following their own agendas, secretly (or openly) serving the darkness.

The Pharisees versus the Saducees in the New Testament. 2 rival religious-political groups arguing over fine points of theology. Enter Jesus to really stir things up.

Eddings' Elenium series. The Elenes are monotheistic, thinking everyone else is pagan/wrong. Little do they realize (or refuse to acknowledge) their god is a member of a larger pantheon. Meanwhile the Styrics (servants of elder gods) look upon them with bemused condescension at their ignorance (mixed with fear and resentment since they are a minority that has suffered persecution).

 

[S'mon]

Territorial disputes are good - qv War of 1812.

The city-state squabbles of ancient Greece should provide inspiration.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Eddings' Elenium series. The Elenes are monotheistic, thinking everyone else is pagan/wrong. Little do they realize (or refuse to acknowledge) their god is a member of a larger pantheon. Meanwhile the Styrics (servants of elder gods) look upon them with bemused condescension at their ignorance (mixed with fear and resentment since they are a minority that has suffered persecution).

On a quick side note, it's been a while since I read The Elenium but if memory serves, the Elene God was not part of the Styric pantheon. He was the only member of a pantheon of one, separate from the Younger Gods of Styricum. /tangent

My favorite justification for Good vs. Good is arrogance. Good Knights often get to thinking that since they are right, everyone else must therefore be wrong, and act accordingly.

Likewise, there might be a question of rank. If the baronies were all part of a larger kingdom in the past, the various barons might each dispute who has claim to the crown. And even after the kingdom is reunited, questions about whether the king is truly the lawful heir might arise and stir discord.

 

[Ogre Mage]

You might want to check out the Dragonlance Elven Nations Trilogy, most notably the second book in the series -- The Kinslayer Wars by Douglas Niles. The elven nation becomes divided over whether to declare war on the humans and winds up locked in a tragic civil war.

Another good examples is dwarves and elves. Both races are generally good, but their differences in outlook can sometimes lead to violent conflict. The old dwarf vs. elf conflict is one of the great sacred cows of fantasy.

LG alignment can lend itself to intolerance and inflexibility. Perhaps due to severe misunderstandings, it certainly is possible that two LG nations might consider one another "evil."

 

[robberbaron]

How about good old paranoia?

Baron A suspects that the neighbouring barony (B) is in thrall to a BBEV.
Of course, Baron B suspects the same thing of A.

Could be Baron C spreading disinformation 'cos HE is actually in thrall to the BBEV.

 

[Sidereal Knight]

Two (or more) of the baronies used to be one state in the past. At some point, the last ruler of the unified kingdom decided to split it between his equally-worth yet highly-ambitious children. Comptetition born out of sibling rivalry ensues at a political/economic level. The descendants continue the rivalry out of a sense of tradition and/or family loyalty, and it becomes an institutionalized.

Of course, the leaders or governments are equally "good" with respect to their own citizens, while at the same time trying to cut the other nations off by controlling resources, trade routes, and alliances with other powers.

 

[Voadam]

I am putting some 'good vs. good' campaign history together as to why good-aligned baronies never got along well enough to unite under one flag. Besides evil-doers mucking up the trust, why else might do-gooders never join forces? I am looking for a bunch of ideas, as there are about 10+ baronies that have warred off and on over centuries and could use plenty of reasons they might send their paladins into battle against one another.
Thanks again -
~MX

Baron 1 "Right, so we're both good barons and want what's best, why don't we unite the land under one ruler!"

Baron 2 "Excellent, I think uniting us as a whole kingdom will be great! I'll take your vow of fealty now."

Baron 1 "Well, actually, since it was my idea I figured I'd be the king. You have to admit I came up with the idea first so it would only be fair and just for me to be king. So I'll take your vow of fealty."

Baron 2 "But I called it first so justice is on my side."

Baron 1 "Technically yes but the spirit of the proposal was clearly for me to be king, what with having the initiative for the proposal and all."

Baron 2 "Oh come on now."

Baron 1 "Yes seriously, so lets have that vow."

Baron 2 "I think it is time you took your all your horses and men and left my lands"

Baron 1 "But I'm the new king, so these are my lands now!"

Baron 2 "All right "king", you've got until sundown to cross back over that border safely or I'll throw any of your men still on this side into the stocks."

Baron 1 "You admitted it, I'm the king! My progeny and I have a legal claim to this land, we should all be united under one good banner and that is my family crest!"

Baron 2 "That's it. Sir Pendeghast, remove them from the court room. If they are not off our lands by sunset tomorrow you are to take them into custody after a proper smiting."